Pregame Notes: 12/31 Devils vs. Capitals

Tonight is the second of four games between the Devils and Capitals in 2016-17 and is this home-and-home series' finale. The Devils won the first match-up on Thursday at Verizon Center, 2-1 SO. The clubs will face-off again Jan. 26 at Prudential Center.

The Devils are 4-3-2 against Metropolitan Division opponents and are 8-8-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. New Jersey is 9-3-2 at home this season.

The Devils are 2-2-2 at Prudential Center and are 5-6-3 overall vs. Washington since the 2013-14 season. Thursday's win was the Devils first victory vs. Washington since Nov. 14, 2014 (1-0).

Michael Cammalleri has five points (2g-3a + 1 GDG) in six games vs. the Capitals as a Devil. He also has 15 points in 17 games in his career against Washington.

CAPITALS CONNECTIONS

Travis Zajac and Washington forwards Taylor Chorney and T.J. Oshie were teammates at the University of North Dakota in 2005-06…P.A. Parenteau and Caps' forward Lars Eller were teammates on Montreal in 2014-15…Capitals' defenseman John Carlson played for the NJ Rockets (ATJHL) for two seasons from 2005-07…New Jersey's Assistant General Manager Tom Fitzgerald played under Caps Head Coach Barry Trotz from 1998-2002; Fitzgerald served the Predators as team captain during each of those four seasons…Washington's Associate Coach Todd Reirden was New Jersey's 14th choice (12th round) and the 242nd overall pick in the 1990 Entry Draft…Head Coach John Hynes served as an assistant under Reirden with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2009-10 and succeeded him as Head Coach of the Penguins the following season.